Art Education Grant Funding Announced

The Quad Cities Community Foundation is pleased to announce that grant funding to enhance arts education is now available. The Isabel Bloom Art Education Endowment was established at the Foundation to support visual arts education in primary and secondary schools located in Scott and Rock Island Counties. 

Isabel Bloom established the Fund to honor the memory of the sculptor and company founder in 2001.  The company could think of no better way to celebrate Isabel’s life than to combine her love of children with her passion for all forms of visual art.  Grants from the fund further the education of local children and art instructors, foster greater appreciation of the visual arts, and help enhance the quality of life in the Quad Cities.

School systems applying for this grant must be located in Scott County, Iowa or Rock Island County, Illinois. Public and private school systems are eligible if there are at least 500 children in the system. School systems may submit multiple applications. If more than two applications are submitted from a single school system, the system must provide the Community Foundation with a prioritized list of projects before the grant deadline of April 15th. If funds remain after the April grant decisions, a second grant opportunity will be due September 15. 

The minimum grant is $1,000 and the maximum grant is $2,000. Grants will be made to projects that are outside of the traditional funding sources of the art program. Grants should supplement, not replace, the existing and appropriate art education budget of the school system.

“We are continuing Isabel’s legacy by having this fund and grant process in place,” said Donna Young, co-owner of Isabel Bloom. “Her goal was to inspire kids to be creative.  I am thrilled that we can offer this supplemental art education funding in partnership with the Community Foundation.”

 The Isabel Bloom Art Education Fund grant application cycle is open now through April 15th. Applicants must apply using the online grant application system. Please contact Kelly Thompson, the Foundation’s Director of Programs, at 563-326-2840 with any questions regarding the grant application process.